Attempts by the so-called Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, to seek access to the Social Security Administration’s database have sparked concern that it could compromise people’s private financial and medical information and could lead to a disruption in benefits.

When people think of Social Security, they typically think of monthly benefits — for the roughly 69 million retirees, disabled workers, dependents and survivors who receive them today. But word that members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is seeking access to the Social Security Administration’s data systems should conjure up thoughts of data on hundreds of millions of people.